The response of precipitation to aerosol through riming and melting in deep convective clouds

What is it about?

The impact of aerosol on precipitation is studied by simulating clouds in various aerosol loadings and atmospheric conditions. Precipitation increases with aerosol in maritime clouds due to warm and moist air and wide aerosol spectra. Precipitation in continental clouds increases in clean air but decreases in polluted air, which is controlled by the different response of riming and melting of graupel particles.

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Why is it important?

It is oversimplified to say that aerosol enhances or suppresses precipitation without stating the cloud type and the aerosol loading.